City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 16.9% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $116,900 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Chicago, IL and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,043 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Springfield, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Chicago, IL to Springfield, MO ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −14.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.6% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $85,511 in Springfield | $116,944 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +16.9%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,043/yr.
100 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,043/yr.
37 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Springfield, MO is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Springfield, MO | Real change, Chicago → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | +4.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | +4.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | +4.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | +4.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | +4.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $49,380 | $57,747 (−26.3%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $102,350 | $119,692 (−10.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $73,020 | $85,393 (+3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $79,370 | $92,819 (−7.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.